Best London Bus Routes for Sightseeing

London's red buses are one of the best value ways to see the city — a single bus fare covers a full journey with daily price caps, and several routes pass through landmark-dense corridors that rival any paid tour.

Route 15 Heritage Bus

The heritage Routemaster service (when running seasonally) between Trafalgar Square and Tower Hill passes St Paul's, the Strand and Fleet Street — open-platform boarding, classic double-decker experience.

Route 11: Westminster to Liverpool Street

Passes the Houses of Parliament, Whitehall, St Paul's Cathedral, Bank and Liverpool Street — almost every major City and Westminster sight from the upper deck.

Route 9: Aldwych to Hammersmith

Covers the Strand, Trafalgar Square, the West End, Royal Albert Hall and Kensington — useful and scenic.

Route 188: Russell Square to Greenwich

Crosses Tower Bridge and runs through Bermondsey to Greenwich — the best bus for South Bank exploration.

Tips

• Sit on the upper deck at the front — the view is significantly better.
• Pay with contactless card or phone — cash is not accepted on London buses.
• Bus journeys are flat-fare and count toward the daily price cap.